Silchar: Silchar airport is one of the six airfields in Assam with the rich legacy of the World War II vintage airstrips. It is ranked fourth after Guwahati, Agartala and Imphal on traffic density. State of the art navigational and visual aids for the smooth operations of aircraft in all weather conditions has been installed. But, even after 68 years of Independence, Kumbhirgram Airport near Silchar remains a tale of neglect. Of course, runway has been extended from 5859 feet to 7500 feet to facilitate the landing and take of air bus.
Apron has also been expanded by 150 feet. Besides, night landing facility has also been completed. State of the art Instrument Landing System (ILS) has also been installed. But, the operation of flights at night is yet to become operational as the Air Force in control of the airport has not given its nod for security reasons. With the extension of runway and some sort of modernization, it was expected that the frequency of flights from this airport to Kolkata and Guwahati as well as different destinations of North East would increase.
Direct flight to Delhi would also be introduced. Paradoxically enough, nothing of the sort happened despite 100 per cent load factor. Rather, the number of air services has been reduced and fares have gone up abnormally. The volume of passengers and cargo is projected to go up by 11 per cent in the next seven years according to the report of a Task Force constituted by the Civil Aviation Ministry. Air passengers for Kolkata and beyond will be in for more ordeal when, according to an aviation source, the lone daily afternoon flight of Jet Airways will remain suspended from March 27 until further notice.
26/03/16 Sentinel
To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline
Apron has also been expanded by 150 feet. Besides, night landing facility has also been completed. State of the art Instrument Landing System (ILS) has also been installed. But, the operation of flights at night is yet to become operational as the Air Force in control of the airport has not given its nod for security reasons. With the extension of runway and some sort of modernization, it was expected that the frequency of flights from this airport to Kolkata and Guwahati as well as different destinations of North East would increase.
Direct flight to Delhi would also be introduced. Paradoxically enough, nothing of the sort happened despite 100 per cent load factor. Rather, the number of air services has been reduced and fares have gone up abnormally. The volume of passengers and cargo is projected to go up by 11 per cent in the next seven years according to the report of a Task Force constituted by the Civil Aviation Ministry. Air passengers for Kolkata and beyond will be in for more ordeal when, according to an aviation source, the lone daily afternoon flight of Jet Airways will remain suspended from March 27 until further notice.
26/03/16 Sentinel
